Messages

106

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: The Ultimate Decision

« on: Sep 27, 2006, 03:39 pm »

I started (and still do from time to time) on stage and my first real tech job was as a light op.  I worked with a great SM and loved watching her do her thing.  She taught me a lot and the next show I wasn't on stage for I was her ASM.   Now when I'm not on stage or directing... I'm a Stage Manager.

107

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Calling Mics

« on: Sep 27, 2006, 01:12 pm »

Thanks everyone, that was what I figured would be the consensus.  Thanks!

108

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / CALLING: Calling Mics

« on: Sep 25, 2006, 10:04 am »

I've always wondered, do you guys and gals call body mic cues or just sound effects?   In other words do you call goes on body mics when actors are wearing them or do you let the sound engineer take it?   I've done it both ways and it's worked and not worked both ways, I was just wondering what the consensus was.  

109

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!

« on: Sep 25, 2006, 09:24 am »

I've been involved with two show stops.

I had to stop when we had a theatre wide power outage.  Only the battery backup asile lights were working and the emergency lights.  I came out on stage, as we had no power for the God Mic and asked everyone to remain calm, reassuring them that the power would return and we would resume soon... you guessed it, it never did, so fearing the emergency lights might start dieing, we cleared the theatre and sent everyone home. 

The other was to replace an actor who was injured when a fight scene went wrong.  Commuity theatre doesn't have the luxury of stand bys so when an actor broke his ankle jumping down and landign horribly wrong during a sword fight, we needed to replace him with a wide eyed and very nervous ASM who amazingly has never worked with me again  He accutally wasn't bad and he only had a scene or two left. 

110

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: director's power

« on: Sep 23, 2006, 10:10 am »

I appologize I didn't meant to sound so dictatorish... I guess I'm coming from the "other world" of community theatre where the director is king    Or at least they think they are. 

Truth is I'm directing right now and needed to change a light cue... it worked in rehearsal but the Rythm of the show has slowed down so timing needed to be changed and the inevitable "tweaks" in blocking that an actor does on thier own brought one of them out of light, so my SM spoke to the LD and he approved the change which I made. 

Of course the SM needs to make the contacts and clear the changes but in stagemonkey's senario if the director stamped thier foot and became all "directorish" about it would't the change happen?   Remember I'm not a pro so be gentle with the smitings

111

The Green Room / Re: Snacks

« on: Sep 22, 2006, 09:42 am »

I don't get hungry during rehearsals; I get thirsty... so a bottle of water is on my table or in my hand most of the night.  I work with kids a lot and if they see you eat the food trail backstage would make Hansel and Gretyl blush. 

If I were to eat Popcorn would be on the top of the list something relatively healthy.

112

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: prompt books

« on: Sep 22, 2006, 09:25 am »

I've got prompt books from most of the shows I want to remember they are in a big rubbermaid storage bin my basement.   I work at the rare community theatre that keeps them so my book from the last 5 or 6 are in storage there.  I do scan all my scripts and keep a copy of them on CD along with all the paperwork from the show.  Electronic is the way to go... you can fit alot more CD's in those rubbermaid things. 

113

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking Charts?

« on: Sep 21, 2006, 11:18 am »

I've done both... I've learned that the right way to layout your paperwork is the way you choose to lay out your paperwork...  I almost always have two scripts, one blocking and the other cueing becuase inevitably the blocking script ends up in the dressing room for someone to review because they forget.   

I do agree though if you try and put all in the same script it gets tough to read.

-Stick Figures ljh?  Heck I can't draw so my blocking maps look like football plays... X's and O's everywhere I've had an actor ask me if he was supposed to buttonhook after the fade pattern before.  :-)

114

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: director's power

« on: Sep 21, 2006, 11:13 am »

In terms of tweaking cues I'm comfortable with it happening pretty much up till opening night, dress rehearsals are just that - rehearsals, previews are a different story but considering I've been to Broadway previews where the house lights came on mid act and the director stopped the show... go for it. 

As for boundaries I agree that the LD needs to be there till the show opens if not discussed prior.  If they should need to go somewhere before the show opening. The Design should be "locked" before they go.  After it's locked, small changes can be done but any large scale work should be run by the LD first, and he should be notified of any work period.

Either way as the SM, imho you work for the director and if they want to be that unprofessional you can object, but in the end… you help. 

115

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] Scheduling and Calendar Applications

« on: Sep 21, 2006, 10:38 am »

Shared calendars!  Why the heck didn't I think of that!

116

Tools of the Trade / Re: latest toyes...

« on: Sep 21, 2006, 10:36 am »

I am thinking that addiction to stationary stores is genetic


Nah more like an occupational hazzard.

117

Employment / Re: how do you get to Broadway?

« on: Sep 21, 2006, 08:59 am »

Thats ok Red,

I was going to say Lincoln Tunnel stay to the right, bear left and park at port authority... 

From what I'm told (I'm not a pro) it's pretty much who you know, and who they know, and when.